Allan Houston converted a key three-point play and Charlie Ward
sank a crucial pull-up jumper, both in the final 91 seconds, as
the New York Knicks got a much-needed 109-108 victory over the
Atlanta Hawks.

With the Knicks leading 104-103 with 1:31 to go, Houston drained
a long jumper from the left corner and was fouled by Tyrone
Corbin. After his free throw put New York ahead by four,
Christian Laettner sank a jumper to cut the deficit to 107-105.

But Ward beat Hawks center Greg Anderson off the dribble and
pulled up for a nine-footer that gave the Knicks a four-point
lead with 20 seconds left.

"I just tried to run the clock down and get a good shot," Ward
said. "Luckily the shot went in. Tonight we hit some big shots
to keep us in the lead. That is what we need to do."

"I thought we made some big shots down the stretch," said Knicks
coach Jeff Van Gundy. "I thought Allan's three-point play was
big and especially Charlie Ward's runner."

Houston finished with 21 points and Ward had 10 assists as the
Knicks won for just the third time in 10 games. New York also
moved within 3 1/2 games of the Hawks for fifth place in the
Eastern Conference.

"I think we took some good shots and made them down the
stretch," said Houston. "Tonight we were good offensively but we
still have to tighten up on defense."

Larry Johnson scored 19 points and John Starks, who missed two
free throws with 6.9 seconds to go that could have sealed the
victory, finished with 16.

Steve Smith scored 24 points and Laettner added 20 for the
Hawks, who had a three-game winning streak snapped and lost for
just the second time in nine games. Atlanta battled back from a
10-point fourth-quarter deficit with a 15-3 run, keyed by
Laettner's eight points.

Atlanta was without starting point guard Mookie Blaylock, who is
suffering from anemia. He did not travel with the team to New
York and is undergoing tests in an Atlanta hospital to determine
the severity of the ailment.

The Hawks trailed 95-83 following a layup by Knicks forward
Chris Mills but Atlanta responded with a 15-3 run. Anderson's
layup with 3:53 left capped the run and knotted the contest,
98-98.

Ward buried a jumper but Alan Henderson countered with a jumper
from the top of the key. Charles Oakley then sank a jumper from
the left wing with 2:52 to go to push the Knicks' advantage to
102-100. Steve Smith hit a 12-footer 26 seconds later to tie the
contest but Oakley buried another jumper from the wing to put
New York on top.

Laettner hit a free throw to shave the deficit to 104-103 before
Houston hit his pivotal basket. After Ward's jumper left New
York on top 109-105, Atlanta got a free throw from Corbin with
7.8 seconds to go. Starks then missed two from the line and
Atlanta had a chance to tie.

After a timeout, Atlanta inbounded and Eldridge Recasner was
immediately fouled. Recasner, who had made 52-of-53 free throws
this season, made the first and the Hawks called another
timeout. Recasner attempted to miss the second but the ball
banked in with 2.3 seconds to go. Houston was fouled and after
missing the first, purposely missed the second as the clock ran
out.

"We were going to try and get a good shot and thought they might
foul but we weren't sure," Atlanta coach Lenny Wilkens said. "It
was good strategy on their part. We were hoping to get a shot."

Ward finished with 11 points as six Knicks reached double
figures. New York also recorded 66 points in the first half,
their highest total of the season. New York was 28-of-47 from
the field in the opening 24 minutes and held a 23-9 edge on the
boards.

"The biggest thing was that we just could not get rebounds early
on," Wilkens added. "They got to all the loose balls."